There is an art, or rather a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. ~Douglas Adams

Nathan Sperry and I got up early yesterday and drove up to Farmington Bay hoping to photograph some eagles. We only [...]]]>

There is an art, or rather a knack to flying.
The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
~Douglas Adams

Nathan Sperry and I got up early yesterday and drove up to Farmington Bay hoping to photograph some eagles. We only saw three or four, and from a distance of 75 to 100 yards at that. We ran into several other people trying to do the same thing we were.  One gentleman said he thought we were too early in the year by a month or so. But it was a beautiful, albeit cold morning so we took photos of other birds and of the scenery.  We saw several hawks at a much closer distance and a family of mud hens (which I discovered are called American Coots.) Nathan was sporting his new Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and Wimberly gimball tripod head. He definitely looked the part, not that I was jealous or anything.

Maybe we’ll head up there to try our luck again in a few weeks.

Nikon D7000 18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 25 mm 1/160 sec @ f/8, ISO 400

Ye clouds, that are the ornament of heaven, Who give to it its gayest shadowings And its most awful glories; ye who roll In the dark tempest, or at dewy evening Bow low [...]]]>

Nikon D7000
18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 25 mm
1/160 sec @ f/8, ISO 400

Ye clouds, that are the ornament of heaven,
Who give to it its gayest shadowings
And its most awful glories; ye who roll
In the dark tempest, or at dewy evening
Bow low in tenderest beauty; – ye are to us
A volume full of wisdom.
~James Gates Percival

I’ve been gathering these images for quite a while.  I love to watch the clouds.  Click on the image above to see the gallery.

Nikon D7000 105.0 mm f/2.8 lens @ 105 mm 1/30 sec @ f/11, ISO 100

Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength. ~ Betty Friedan

This is one of my favorite places at my favorite time of year. Click on the image [...]]]>

Nikon D7000
105.0 mm f/2.8 lens @ 105 mm
1/30 sec @ f/11, ISO 100

Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength. ~ Betty Friedan

This is one of my favorite places at my favorite time of year. Click on the image above to see a short gallery of photos.  I almost missed the peak colors this year. As you can see in a couple of the photos the quaking aspens are starting to lose their leaves, but that means the leaves are bright yellow and just amazing.  This is definitely a great place for a drive, especially early in the morning.

Nikon D7000 18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 58 mm 1/60 sec @ f/8, ISO 800

Words are only painted fire; a look is the fire itself. ~ Mark Twain

Autumn snuck up on me this year, and then we had our first snow in the mountains [...]]]>

Nikon D7000
18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 58 mm
1/60 sec @ f/8, ISO 800

Words are only painted fire; a look is the fire itself. ~ Mark Twain

Autumn snuck up on me this year, and then we had our first snow in the mountains this week, so the colorful leave may not last long.  These photos were taken in Salt Lake and Utah County. Click on the photo above to see the image gallery.

Welcome, morning

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is an image from sunrise point at Bryce canyon.  Getting up early often has its rewards.

Mossy Cave Trail

He who neglects to drink of the spring of experience is likely to die of thirst in the desert of ignorance. ~Ling Po

This waterfall makes me reflect about how even a small stream can make a big difference to those living in the desert.

I hate this wretched willow soul of mine, patiently enduring, plaited or twisted by other hands. ~Karin Boye

One of the stops on our vacation last week was Craters of the Moon National Monument.  It is a very interesting place, geologically speaking, and it [...]]]>
Craters of the Moon National Monument

I hate this wretched willow soul of mine, patiently enduring, plaited or twisted by other hands.
~Karin Boye

One of the stops on our vacation last week was Craters of the Moon National Monument.  It is a very interesting place, geologically speaking, and it is amazing to see the way life can thrive — even in such a harsh environment.

Bryce Canyon

The morning steals upon the night,  Melting the darkness. ~ William Shakespeare

This image was taken just after sunrise.  The sun is positioned more or less up and behind the hoodoos such that they are illuminated by the canyon wall just below the [...]]]>

Bryce Canyon

The morning steals upon the night,  Melting the darkness.
~ William Shakespeare

This image was taken just after sunrise.  The sun is positioned more or less up and behind the hoodoos such that they are illuminated by the canyon wall just below the camera.  I like the translucence and orange glow that the lighting in this scene provides.  Kind of fun…

Bryce Canyon

The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us. Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star. ~Henry David Thoreau

On our recent family trip to Bryce Canyon I [...]]]>

Bryce Canyon

The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us.
Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn.
The sun is but a morning star.
~Henry David Thoreau

On our recent family trip to Bryce Canyon I really wanted to get up early one morning to catch the sunrise at Sunrise Point.  I think this may be my favorite image from the excursion. It turns out it was taken just minutes prior to sunrise.

Franklin County, ID

Nikon D7000 18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 66 mm 1/2 sec @ f/16, ISO 100

In the innermost recess of your heart there is a reservoir of peace where you must take refuge. ~Sri Sathya Sai Baba

It is hard to believe [...]]]>

Franklin County, ID

Nikon D7000
18.0-105.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 66 mm
1/2 sec @ f/16, ISO 100

In the innermost recess of your heart there is a reservoir of peace where you must take refuge.
~Sri Sathya Sai Baba

It is hard to believe I took this photo on Memorial Day. The weather felt more like early March than late May. Note the snow in the mountains in the background. Crazy! There is still a lot of water that’s got to come down, and this new snow only adds to it.

I love the serenity in this scene, however. One of the nice things about all the rain we have been getting is that everything is fabulously green. But the greens are almost yellow — I suppose because we’ve had so little sun.